Untkatara (Echinops echinatus) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India : Traditional Medicinal Knowledge, Occurrence and Trade

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, all plants of Echinops are not suitable for preparation of drugs. They adopt special method to select the most potential plants. The healers put the living plants under pressure of stones whole night and next morning after removing the stones, they check the vitality of plants. The plants remained alive under the pressure of stones are considered as best plants and locally it is known as ‘Nar’ (the male) plants. The healers use all most every parts of these Nar plants to prepare medicines. These medicines are used both internally and externally. In my ethnomedico surveys, I have never seen or noted, the special method used for other herbs, as used in case of Echinops. The traditional healers told me that from generations they are selecting the Nar plants by adopting this method to prepare medicines. Many of them, have tested and compared the efficacies of both Nar and Mada (The female) plants and according to them, they have found the Nar plants more useful as compared to Mada plants . This is unique selection method and in reference literatures. I have yet not read any such selection method. Echinops is not native to India but it holds a reputed position in all most all indigenous systems of medicine. In Chhattisgarh, it is a common wasteland weed. The natives and traditional healers of the state are wall aware of different unique medicinal uses and properties of Echinops. In local language it is also known as Kanta Van, Kantila, Gol Kanta Phool etc. I have observed its natural occurrence in all most every part of the state.

Common and popular names of Untkatara (Echinops echinatus) around the world
1) Arabic	Ashtarkhar
2) Gujarati	Shuliyo, Utkanto, Utkato
3) Hindi	Gokhru, Utkunta, Utakatira, Untkatara
4) Marathi	Kadechubak, Utanti, Utati, Utkatara
5) Persian	Astarkhar
6) Sanskrit	Kantalu, Kantaphala, Karamadana, Raktapushpa, Mukh adantarujapaha, Shrigala, Usthrakanta, Utati, Utkantaka, Vrittaguchha
7) Urdu	Untkatara

During my ethnomedico surveys at Bastar region, I noted its specific use to hasten the process of delivery. It is general practice in the region that in order to hasten the process of delivery, the natives tie the root of Echinops in hairs of pregnant woman. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the healers prepare an aqueous paste with its root and apply it in lower abdominal region of pregnant woman for same purpose. In northern part of Chhattisgarh, the healers advise the woman to take internally the aqueous paste of Echinops roots for quick and safe delivery. The roots of Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera) are also used for same purpose by the healers but these roots are tied in waist instead of hair. The traditional healers informed me that Echinops roots are good substitute to Achyranthes roots. In case of Achyranthes roots, the healer use red string to tie the roots but for Echinops roots there is no specific recommendations. Many healers informed me that fresh Echinops roots are not much effective in this case. They adopt special method for its collection. In the day of Lunar or Solar eclipse, the healers visit to the patches of Echinops plants with the grains of wild rice, Haldi powder (Turmeric) and river water. After reaching at the spot, the healers irrigate the roots with the aqueous solution containing grains of wild rice and Haldi powder and after two hours, they dig the roots of Echinops. As the Solar or Lunar eclipse are rare phenomenon, the traditional healers try to collect more and more roots during these occasions and keep it carefully for future use. The roots are very valuable for them. It is general belief in Chhattisgarh that these roots reduces the power of opponent or enemies, if any person keeps it with him or her. It is also general belief that keeping these roots in home protect the home from bad evils and venomous creatures. According to the healers every one must keep these roots with him in order to remain health and wealthy. The natives purchase these specially collected roots by giving very high prices to the local healers. In case of delivery, the natives prefer to use these roots under supervision of healers, because the healers know better that how long it should be kept on hairs. Most of healers remove the roots immediately after child birth. According to them, after child birth, the presence of these rots in contact with human body can cause a great damage. After removing the roots, they wash it with river water and again put it in their medicine box for future use. How many times these roots are used or after how many days roots loose its medicinal properties ? When I asked this question to healers, they replied that there is no specific recommendations but after using these roots 50-60 times, they replace the roots. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the roots as considered as "Lucky roots" and in urban areas it is common practice to keep the roots inside the pant’s pocket. I am trying to search the science behind this general belief. In case of snake or scorpion bite many healers use the aqueous extract of roots both internally and externally. According to them it is good first aid remedy. I personally feel that there is a strong need for scientific investigation particularly to study the effect of the rice grains, Haldi powder and river water on the medicinal properties of roots.

Echinops is a reputed sex tonic in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use this herb in different ways both internally and externally. I am describing some of the rare information on its uses, I have gathered from the traditional healers specialised in the treatment of sex related problems. The traditional healer of Durg, has given a lot of information about the potential of its roots. His herbal powder (Churna) for sex stimulation is very popular in the region. According to him, he uses the root bark of Echinops as main ingredient in this powder. The patients are advised to mix this powder in water and apply it on male genitals externally one hour before intercourse. The patients having poor vitality are advised to use pure honey in place of water for better results. I have interviewed many satisfied patients and according to them it is good remedy to delay the ejaculation. The healer is very famous among beaurocrates, but he never discloses the secret formula. Unlike other traditional healers, he charges very high fees for this powder. He told me that he uses over 20 herbs with Echinops roots but other healers informed me that alone Echinops roots have enough potential to show the results. The traditional healers of Dhamtari region use the root barks of Echinops, Fudhar (Calotropis gigantea), Dhatra (Datura stramonium) in equal proportion to prepare a herbal powder for same purpose. The root barks are crushed into powder and after this, the powder is mixed in Dhatra leaf juice and Kukronda (Blumea lacera) leaf juice. The patients are advised to apply this fresh paste on genitals in order to avoid premature ejaculation. Many healers add the Kaner (Nerium sp.) root bark or Blumea root bark in order to make the powder more effective. The root bark is also used in different formulation used as sex tonic. The healer of Dewkar village, told me that he boil the root bark with fresh cow milk and recommend it to newly married couples as sex tonic. According to him, it is effective sex tonic for both male and female. He also told me that one can also add Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kali Musli (Curculigo orchoides), Kevatch (Mucuna pruriens) in this preparation.

Like, Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) leaves, the leaves of Echinops are also used as preventive to malarial fever in Chhattisgarh. The decoction is prepared using Echinops leaves and patients are advised to take it regularly in order to avoid the malaria fever. It is also used for the treatment of malaria. I have observed that the use of Echinops leaves is less popular in comparison to Kalmegh leaves. Many healers use the Echinops roots and leaves in case of respiratory troubles. The dried roots and leaves are collected and put on fire. The patients suffering from respiratory troubles particularly the asthma are advised to inhale the fumes in order to get quick and permanent relief. These parts are an essential component of popular Herbal cigarettes in the state. The traditional healer of Gandai region, uses the Echinops roots internally in case of respiratory troubles. He uses the root powder and advise his patient to take 4-5 gms of powder daily till relief. According to him, the Echinops roots are effective in combination with other herbs also. The traditional healer of Ahiwara region uses the Echinops flowers as eye tonic. He told me that he has got the information from his father, who was qualified Ayruvedic practitioner. He collects the flowers and mix it with rose petals. He gives the mixture of both flowers in form of powder to his patients and advise them to mix it in water in specific ratio and use it as eye tonic. In combination with common weeds Duddhi (Euphorbia hirta) and Kaua Kaini (Commelina benghalensis), the traditional healer of Narharpur, prepare a decoction and used it for patients suffering from severe Kidney pain. He also recommends the use of powdered herbs including Echniops, as external application on kidney region for quick relief. I have noted its use in over 45 common diseases in Chhattisgarh. Many of these uses are documented in reference literatures but I am proud to say that the natives and traditional healers are still using it and adding new herbs in old combinations. From reference literatures. I have noted that it is a good food of Unt (Camel) and it is commonly known as Unt Ki Jalebi (A sweet dish of camel) in desert state of India (i.e. Rajasthan). In Chhattisgarh, Unt are not present either as wild or domestic animal. In absence of Unt, Echinops is flourishing well in different parts. I have not seen any serious disease or insect infestation on this common herb.

Echinops is a valuable non-timber forest produce in Chhattisgarh but it is not in high demand. Possibly due to its natural occurrence in abundance in many other states of India. Most of the roots collected by the tribal are utilized by the healers in the state. As it is not a crop weed, farmers generally avoid to come in contact with this spiny weed. I would like to give botanical description of this herb before ending this article. It is an annual prostrate herb upto 70cm high. Leaves sessile, oblong, 7-12 cm long, pinnatifid; lobes triangular, spinescent; spines 2-3 cm long, pale, scabrous above, white arachnoid beneath. heads compound, forming a spherical ball, 3-4 cm in diameter, having single bisexual white floret. Involucre surrounded by strong white bristles, resembling pappus; bracts tri cuspidate, sharp spinose; inner bracts 6-7 mm long, connate; white, tubular, 5-lobed. Achenes obconic, densely villous, pappus bristly deciduous. Flowering times varies between November to January in Chhattisgarh conditions. In reference literatures, many medicinal properties and uses of Echinops are mentioned but the details about the information like selection of plant parts, methods to be adopted are not mentioned with full details. My surveys are still on and daily I am getting information on new uses of these lucky roots. I am sure that in near future I will be able to provide more information on traditional medicinal knowledge of Echinops to the world community. Thanks a lot for reading this article.